Colin Kaepernick: Quarterback says he has received death threats

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Photos:NFL players protest during national anthem

Colin Kaepernick (right) and Eric Reid of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the national anthem on September 12, 2016, in Santa Clara, California.

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Photos:NFL players protest during national anthem

Seattle Seahawks' Jeremy Lane sits as the national anthem plays before a preseason match against the Oakland Raiders on September 1, 2016, in Oakland.

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Photos:NFL players protest during national anthem

Kenny Britt and Robert Quinn of the Los Angeles Rams raise their fists prior to playing the San Francisco 49ers on September 12, 2016, in Santa Clara.

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Photos:NFL players protest during national anthem

Denver Broncos' Brandon Marshall kneels on the sideline during the national anthem before a game against the Carolina Panthers in Denver on September 8, 2016.

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Photos:NFL players protest during national anthem

From left, Miami Dolphins' Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, Michael Thomas and Kenny Stills kneel during the singing of the national anthem before a game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 11, 2016.

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Story highlights

Kaepernick: Racism disguised as patriotism

NFL star has been protesting racial inequality

Controversially knelt during US anthem

(CNN)At the vanguard of debate about racial inequality in recent weeks, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick says he has received death threats for making his views known.

When asked about whether somebody were to act upon the specific threats made towards him, Kapaernick said "it will be loud and clear for everyone why it happened, and that would move this movement forward at a greater speed than what it is even now."

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"There's a lot of racism disguised as patriotism in this country. And people don't like to address that. And they don't like to address what the root of this protest is," he added.

Kaepernick has spoken passionately in the past of what he views as the not always positive attitudes of law enforcement agencies towards minorities in America.

Solidarity

This was an issue Kaepernick touched upon again Tuesday in discussing the death of Terrence Crutcher, an unarmed black man, who was gunned down by police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Friday. "That's a perfect example of what this is about. I think it'll be very telling what happens with the officer that killed him," Kaepernick said.

Kaepernick reiterated that tragic events such as these were the reason he decided to start his protest. "I find it very hard that people don't understand what's going on. I think the message has been out there loud and clear for quite some time now."

In recent weeks numerous American sports stars have shown solidarity with Kaepernick by kneeling during the US anthem, which is played in stadiums before most major sporting events.

Kaepernick's 49ers teammate Eric Reid has knelt by his side while LA players Kenny Britt and Robert Quinn raised their fists during the Star Spangled Banner as the NFL season began.

Since then, US women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe has joined in the protest and Kaepernick's 49ers teammates Antoine Bethea, Eli Harold, Jaquiski Tartt and Rashard Robinson also took to raising their fists as the anthem played before Sunday's match against the Carolina Panthers.

Miami Dolphins players, Arian Foster, Kenny Stills and Michael Thomas, also took a knee before their game at the New England Patriots Gillette Stadium this weekend.

The Miami Herald reported last week that the union which represents local sheriff's deputies was asking for team-sponsored police escorts to stop until the Dolphins had forced all players to stand during the anthem.

Kaepernick has announced an action plan for the money he pledged to donate to charity and foundations.

The quarterback says he'll set up a website that will document where his monthly $100,000 is spent so that "I'm transparent in what I'm doing but that these organizations are transparent with where the money is going as well."